Monaco RV LLC announced Wednesday (March 16) R.V. World of Nokomis as a new dealer partner. The Florida dealership will carry the Holiday Rambler brand of motorhomes.

“Holiday Rambler and R.V. World of Nokomis are a perfect fit,” stated Scott Jacobson, national sales manager of Holiday Rambler. “Both have a rich, well-established history spanning many decades and the deep-rooted philosophy that customer always comes first. We are extremely happy to be joining forces with R.V. World to bring our mutual customer the very best in family friendly, affordable RVs on the market.”

Founded in 1977 and still family-owned-and-operated, R.V. World of Nokomis has grown to become one of the largest new and used RV dealerships in Southwest Florida.

The full-service dealership has a 16-bay service department and employs RVIA/RVDA certified technicians. The dealership also has an extensive parts department and body shop.

For more information about R.V. World of Nokomis, visit www.rvworldinc.com or call (800) 262-2182. For more information about Holiday Rambler products, visit www.holidayrambler.com or call (800) 245-4778.

Before the LPGA Tour season concludes Dec. 2-5 with the LPGA Tour Championship at the Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando, a host of LPGA players, executives, partners and friends will travel in a Monaco RV to visit with fans and spread the word about the Tour’s exciting season and its Florida finale.

The LPGA Road Trip Driven by Monaco RV/Alliance Coach “kicks off” this weekend with a couple of football games: A visit to Gainesville on Saturday (Nov. 13) for a University of Florida SEC football showdown with former Gators golfer Sandra Gal, followed the next day by a trip to Tampa for an NFL Buccaneers game with LPGA player Karen Stupples, a rabid Bucs fan.

The Monaco RV Diplomat will weave around Florida over the next week and a half, wrapping up the Road Trip just prior to Thanksgiving on Nov. 23 with a “Feed the Hungry” visit to Caring Hands Ministry in Wildwood, Fla., home of Alliance Coach, where participants in the Road Trip will prepare special pre-Thanksgiving meals.

“We’re thrilled to partner once again with the LPGA and its players, who not only know how to entertain and engage their fans, but also open their hearts to the communities where they visit,” said Ryan Lee, Monaco RV director of marketing. “As Presenting Sponsor of the Navistar LPGA Classic, we’ve enjoyed great success with the tour and love the idea of partnering for a fun, interactive road trip.”

Added LPGA Tour Commissioner Mike Whan: “Monaco RV’s a great success story — a former small, specialty RV manufacturer that has grown into a thriving corporation producing annual revenue exceeding $1 billion — so we’re proud to work with them both at our annual Navistar tournament as well as the countdown to the LPGA Tour Championship.”

Media and fans alike are encouraged to participate in the Road Trip, either in person or via the websites of the LPGA, Monaco RV and Alliance Coach, along with their affiliated Facebook pages, YouTube.com channels and Twitter feeds.

Besides the aforementioned football events with Sandra Gal and Karen Stupples, the Road Trip also will feature a number of other activities and appearances including:

Paula Creamer gets her first up-close view of the new Amway Center during an Orlando Magic game.

Attendees savored pleasant temperatures, low humidity and no rain, while other parts of the United States endured a summer heat wave. These favorable conditions likely helped draw attendees out en masse for seminars, entertainment, exhibits, and social activities.

According to Jerry Yeatts, FMCA’s director of conventions and commercial services, coach exhibitors seemed “extremely happy.” For example, one dealer reported selling six of its 11 coaches on display. Newcomer manufacturer Provan Industries unveiled its Tiger 4×4 Type C motorhome and sold the unit within the first 24 hours. Most of the higher-end Itasca-brand motorhomes that were exhibited found buyers as well. Monaco RV attracted onlookers with its new Vesta, a smaller Type A motorhome built on a proprietary Roadmaster chassis and powered by a 260-horsepower MaxxForce 7 front diesel engine.

Indoors, many supplier and component exhibitors experienced brisk sales. Convention attendees jammed the aisles when the exhibit buildings opened the first morning for an exclusive showing. Some indoor exhibitors reportedly sold out of their inventory the initial day. Catherine Hickland, “One Life To Live” TV star and owner of Cat’s Cosmetics, demonstrated her products on more than 400 ladies as she launched her “RV beauty pack” in Redmond.

Redmond evening entertainment was “a home run,” Yeatts said. FMCA paid tribute to the centennial of the RV industry, which is being celebrated throughout 2010, with a presentation of “The Long, Long Trailer,” a 1954 comedy starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Todd Fisher, an FMCA member and son of actress Debbie Reynolds, introduced the movie and shared some behind-the-scenes details. He also brought along a dress Lucille Ball wore in the film that is now part of the Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Movie Museum collection.

The following evening, Debbie Reynolds herself presented a humorous review of her life and career before a standing-room-only crowd. Other acts during the week included The Texas Tenors, of “America’s Got Talent” TV fame; Live Bait, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band; and the Forever Motown musical revue.

Attendees had their pick of 136 seminars covering 119 technical and nontechnical topics. These focused on such subjects as motorhome operation, maintenance, and components; travel sites; hobbies to pursue while RVing; exercise and health; and make-and-take crafts. Several additional sessions were scheduled on-site to accommodate overflow crowds.

Other convention activities included morning coffee hour; an ice cream social; special theme days; a dunk tank that raised funds for charity; bean bag baseball; karaoke; and even a wet T-shirt (throwing) contest. Some called to mind FMCA’s early 1960s-era conventions, when canoe battles, tugs-of-war, and other contests brought friends together.

That camaraderie seemed to resonate through the “Redmond Rocks!” crowd. Exhibitor and seminar presenter Jeanie McKay, of MindZone Publishing, commented, “We noticed a feeling of bonded unity we’ve never felt in an RV convention before.”

FMCA national president Charlie Schrenkel said that he and other members of the association’s Executive Board talked with numerous attendees in Redmond. “All told us that there was something in the air, something about this convention that they couldn’t put their finger on that made it one of the best that they had been to in a long time,” he said. “I believe that ‘something’ was us, sharing a unique experience with each other in a beautiful place — and having fun!”

FMCA resumes its international convention schedule next year: March 14-17 in Perry, Ga., and Aug. 10-13 in Madison, Wis.

For more information about FMCA international conventions, contact Pamela Kay or visit www.fmca.com.

Monaco RV has added vendor booths, on-site service technicians and even lowered the fees to attend the company’s 2010 Alabama Getaway Oct. 6-10 in conjunction with the Navistar LPGA Classic presented by Monaco RV in Prattville, Ala.

The rally fee includes tournament tickets, five nights of drycamping, three catered meals, four cocktail hours, two nights of entertainment, vendor-hosted seminars, golf outings (for an additional fee), special guests appearances and more.

Watch today’s Featured Video courtesy of KVAL-TV, Eugene, Ore., to learn more about the following story.

The future scares Margie ReGester.

“I want to be around for my grandkids,” ReGester said.

She lives on $553 a month. Country Coach laid her off three years ago, and she hasn’t been able to find work since. KVAL News interviewed ReGester when her COBRA ran out in January 2009.

Since then, like 73,000 other people in Oregon’s Lane County, ReGester’s been without insurance.

On Sunday (July 25), ReGester found herself surrounded by RVs once again. She wasn’t an employee. She was a patient.

Cascade Medical Teams rented out Monaco RV’s health clinic in Coburg, Ore., July 24-25. More than 100 volunteers, doctors and nurses treated and diagnosed people without health insurance at no cost.

Cascade Medical Teams usually provides free medical care in Guatemala. They recently decided the need was just as big in their backyard.

“We just felt that we needed to provide some of the expertise we’ve developed in doing the kinds of things we’ve done out of the country here in Lane County,” Cascade Medical Teams Board Member Bruce Mulligan said.

For ReGester, the clinic meant answers.

“Now I know why I’ve been so light-headed and dizzy and having these episodes I’ve been having,” ReGester said.

Without insurance she can’t afford doctors visits or medicine for her high blood pressure. At the clinic, Dr. Richard Barnhart did it all for free. The treatment doesn’t end there. On her way out, ReGester made a follow-up appointment at a low-income clinic. It’s a relief, she said, and it’s making her feel better.

“I’m sure my blood pressure has already gone down,” ReGester said.

The clinic served just under 200 people this weekend. Organizers said they were hoping for more patients. They are planning another free clinic in a few months and want to move it to a more central location.

Focusing on the ‘livability’ of its floorplan offerings — including a full-wall slideout and bath-and-a-half layouts — Monaco RV today (April 29) introduced its 2011 Diplomat Class A motorhome, available in lengths ranging from 40 to 43 feet. “The four (new) floorplans deliver, each offering unique design layouts offering the most space utilization,” said Mike Snell, senior vice president of sales and product development for the Coburg, Ore.-based manufacturer. The ’11 Diplomat will be offered in three lengths: a 40-foot coach built on the Roadmaster RR8R chassis, and 42- and 43-foot models utilizing Roadmaster’s RR10R tax-axle chassis. All units are powered by a 425-hp Cummins ISL diesel. The interior of the Diplomat is available in three decor choices, with ceramic tile throughout the living area, kitchen and bath; the kitchen also boasts solid-surface countertops, stainless-steel sink, ceramic tile backsplashes and, on the 42- and 43-foot models, a handy pull-out extension with drawers. All cabinetry is of solid hardwood, available in two wood choices. The bath-and-a-half floorplans for the 42PAQ and 43DFT feature full private bath beyond the bedroom, with shower, double vanity (43DFT) or single vanity with linen storage (42PAQ), solid-surface countertops and full rear wardrobe. Solid-surface countertops also are found on the bedroom nightstands; the sleeping area also features raised-panel hardwood cabinetry, day/night pleated blackout shades and 26-inch LCD TV with optional DVD player. The Diplomat is finished with full-body paint, highlighted by bold graphics. Options include an exterior entertainment center, GPS navigation system, central vacuum, auto-generator start, bedroom ceiling fan and RV San-con holding tank flush system. MSRPs start at $304,350.

Monaco RV LLC announced that Endless Summer RV in Fredrick, Md., has signed on as a dealer partner to carry the Monaco brand of motorhomes.

‘We are honored to partner with Endless Summer. This well-established and respected dealership offers first class sales and service and will provide our customers the highest level of care,” says Mike Snell, senior vice president of sales and product development. “We look forward to a long, successful partnership with Endless Summer, offering their customers the very best recreational vehicles on the market.”

Endless Summer RV, established in 1992, is family owned and operated by Thom and Teresa Beckley and is dedicated to the recreational vehicle camping community. The 10-acre complex includes a 20,000-square-foot, climate-controlled showroom with a full parts and accessories store and online business. Its full-service department is staffed by certified technicians working in a state-of-the-art, eight-bay service facility that includes a 40,000-pound motorhome lift.

“We chose to carry the Monaco brand due to Monaco RV’s reputation of building a quality motorhome and because of the market share it holds in the industry, “ says Thom Beckley, owner of Endless Summer RV.

“The strength of being backed by Navistar is a definite advantage for Monaco. I look forward to the future ahead with Monaco RV.”

Monaco RV LLC, Coburg, Ore., today (March 8) announced the new 2011 Neptune diesel pusher from Holiday Rambler in a news release. The popular motorhome has been upgraded to the eight air bag proprietary Roadmaster chassis, from the previous four air bag model. The eight outboard-mounted air bag RR8R Roadmaster chassis provides a wide and stable platform for the coach, improving drivability. The 2011 Holiday Rambler Neptune is powered by a new 360-hp engine, standard on 40-foot models, with a 340-hp engine standard on 36-foot models. Four creative floorplans are offered including the popular full-wall slide that provides massive living space. The interior boasts ceramic tile throughout the living area, kitchen and bath along with three well-appointed decor color choices. Solid surface countertops with mosaic tile backsplashes, an optional residential refrigerator and handy flip up countertop extension make meal preparation a breeze. All floorplans offer an optional king bed as well as solar screens with blackout shade. Behind the wheel, safety minded features include the Panaview one-piece windshield, standard three-camera rear vision system and optional GPS system. For more details on the Neptune including a video tour, along with information on Holiday Rambler’s full line of products, visit www.holidayrambler.com.

Monaco RV LLC announced today (Feb, 15) it has signed an agreement with Motor Sportsland to sell the Holiday Rambler brand of products.

Motor Sportsland located in Salt Lake City, is Utah’s No.1 volume RV dealership, with over ,1000 RVs sold every year since 2004. Founded in 1969 and an employee-owned company since 2004, Motor Sportsland encompasses eight acres with an established and experienced sales force and management team, according to a news release.

“Motor Sportland and Holiday Rambler are a perfect fit,” stated Kay Toolson, president of Monaco RV. “Both have a rich, well established history spanning many decades and the deep-rooted philosophy that customers always come first. We could not be happier to have Motor Sportsland join the Holiday Rambler family and we look forward to charting out the future together.”

According to Brett Parris, president of Motor Sportsland, “We chose to partner with Holiday Rambler because of its legacy of more than 50 years building quality products, as well as the exceptional brand recognition and loyalty associated with the Holiday Rambler name. We know customers from a large surrounding area will come seeking out Holiday Rambler products.”